oggleblog

Ok so your new year’s resolutions are dust….lift your spirits by going onto utube and type in Validation.

A film recommended by our film maker in Poland Richard Coleman.

An inspiring contribution from architect Maria Evagora

Old school, Kenya, Africa

Old class Kenya, Africa

Kenya, Africa.  This is an example of what can happen when people work together and keep the momentum up.  The dream was to create a new school for 1500 children between the ages of 5 –16 in Kenya. The existing school was totally dilapidated and was inadequate for the numbers of children who attended the school, nearly half of which were orphaned to AIDS.

But where would the money come from and how could the dream be realised?

The school was designed and drawn up in London by an architect and these drawings gave the proposal credibility and weight. The new school design was ambitious and included a separate nursery school, 18 classrooms, a shady courtyard area for school assemblies, a library, and playgrounds.  There was even an outdoor theatre area; made up from the remains of the erstwhile mud brick school building…

All these drawings and ideas helped possible donors get excited about the project and helped them to visualise what could be done and drove the project forward.

A generous offer from one benefactor meant that a new nursery school could be funded. From this, another donor offered money for a water bore hole to be made – this meant that the school would have it’s own water source.  Something they never had before.

These kind donations generated interest from others, and so the momentum continued.  Over a period of a few years of drawings and discussions with the end users and fund raising and promises made and kept, the school did eventually get fully funded and is now in its final stages of completion.
This is a true story; and one that can hopefully be repeated.

Maria Evagora

Ben showing new school

New class

Photographer Craig Earl sent us some images from Stockton-On-Tees

Glare

Mars

Artist Clare Simmonds sent us some images of her work, which we found quirky and humourous.  She uses found objects as a major part of her work, as she feels this suits the tacky, gaudy subjects and also because she loves to paint on wood. She scours the charity shops, skips or car boot sales looking for interesting surfaces, the size and shape directs the painting. Her paintings all have a sense of kitsch Britishness that is both funny but sometimes jarring to the viewer.

Mark Spitz

Old Punk

For all of you who enjoy spacial puzzles, or who spent slices of your childhood oggling E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, take a look at Helen Dearnley blog which documents the impossible architecture of Elliott’s house. http://artistasarchitect.blogspot.com/

December 1st

Gosia Dzik-Holden, a designer and maker of all things beautifully knitted (see:www.oggleverything.com) has been knitting magic for her family over Christmas.  She invented a tactile calendar, a calendar of anticipation, of hidden treats, of collected memories.

A calendar that accumulates treasures to be taken later during the frosty chills of January.

A tactile calendar of extra ordinary yarn from around the world, each holding a story to be retold.

For more information go to: stitchville.blogspot.com

…..an ARTY-CRAFTY PARTY on January 26th

Hello and Happy New Year to you! On 26th January, we are launching OgZine and OggleBlog, our online zine and blog about all things creative. Our launch party attenders will get the chance to enjoy live performances, munch and slurp on refreshments and bid wildly at an eclectic auction. A friendly atmosphere guaranteed - mingle with a variety of bloggers, designer-makers, artists and creative eccentrics at The Red Hedgehog, a quirky new arts venue just 3 mins from Highgate tube. 6.30pm - 11pm.

Come and have fun, network and…. make a difference:

ITS NOT JUST AN EXCUSE FOR A GOOD PARTY -proceeds from the event will be donated to two organisations that make a massive difference in the developing world, Plan International and Kiva. The zine, blog and launch event have all been put together by a team of volunteers.

Through this event and our zine and blog, we are aiming to raise £10,000 by Feb 11th (gulp!) to make a massive difference to children in developing countries via two organisations we believe in: Plan International and Kiva.  Half the funds raised at the event will be donated to the charity Plan International and half to Kiva who organise business loans to entrepreneurs in poverty-stricken countries.

TO BOOK A TICKET: (£12)
BOOK YOUR TICKET securely online here: http://www.oggleverything.com/oggleverything-party.html

IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND - we invite you to make a donation at: http://www.justgiving.com/oggleverything (to donate direct to Plan International -supporting children in developing countries) OR http://www.firstgiving.com/oggleblog (to donate direct to Kiva - supporting entrepreneurs in developing countries).

Absolutely any amount you donate makes a difference (yes even £2!) - Thank you!

PLEASE PASS THIS ON globally and help us reach our target! If you have time to pass this on to anyone you think would be interested we would really, really appreciate it.

best wishes
Mel & Caroline x
oggleverything
a partnership between Mel Larsen & Caroline Lee

http://www.oggleverything.com

http://www.oggleverything.com/zine.html

Drain pipes in Valencia, Spain (photo; Mel Larsen)